With input from legal and public health practitioners, this project will explore how legal decisions are made in real-time during declared emergencies. Understanding the science behind complex legal decisions in emergency settings is pivotal to predicting how legal and public health actors may respond in times of need. To date, no one has investigated the dynamic intersection of law, emergencies, and the science of decision-making. The project's objectives are to: (1) include legal triage as a measured capability in public health emergency exercises; (2) develop and share controlled exercises as case studies for legal triage analysis; and (3) enhance legal decision-making during actual emergencies. Our research group combines expertise in legal preparedness and decision-making processes in emergency preparedness. We will integrate principles of legal triage with public health emergency planning through realistic exercises, interviews with public health professionals, and evaluation of specific responses during these exercises to assess specific legal issues and responses concerning key public health decisions. By investigating legal theory, applied training exercises, and the science of decision-making, this project will offer guidance on how to (a) build real-time legal environments in public health emergencies, and (b) refine emergency laws and policies to further improve legal preparedness and public health outcomes.